Service members naturally find themselves adjusting their new environs when they arrive at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
At Guantanamo, service members deployed to Joint Task Force Guantanamo have to do more than to adjust to these new reptile-saturated surroundings; soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen also have to adjust to working in a joint environment. This too was the case for the Virgin Islands National Guard's 786th Combat Service and Support Battalion, which makes up JTF Guantanamo's Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
Comprised of approximately 70 service members, their mission consists of many peripheral support activities, including morale, welfare and recreation, courtesy patrol and safe rides, camp commandant for Camp America, JTF Guantanamo armory, administration, supply, watch duty rosters and Kittery Beach police patrol.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Kelvin Bailey, HHC first sergeant, notes, "this is a great learning environment because all service branches are meshed together here. I think it is important to understand each other's service culture and to be able to not only recognize what is internal to yours, but also to be able to work as a team."
The HHC handles many different taskings, including property accountability, system improvements and communications; because of their manning levels, this means junior personnel have had to step up by filling in for jobs normally given to more seasoned and higher-ranking non-commissioned officers. "I've spoken to various service members who are E-5s filling in for E-7 billets and they informed me they are learning new skills and receiving a lot of support from the Joint Task Force," states Bailey.
Despite adjusting to transitions and the stress brought forth by deployments, there are plenty of constructive activities for service members to balance out these factors. Many opt to enjoy the weather and participate in sporting activities such as volleyball, basketball, going to the gym and fishing.
"The transition went very smoothly and the weather here is very similar to the weather in the Virgin Islands," said Army Capt. Josephine Hector-Murphy, HHC commander.
In the fast-paced environment that is trademark of JTF daily operations, service members from all branches work together to keep the military machine going.
"I see a lot of cohesiveness in the JTF," stated Hector-Murphy. "I know my Troops are enjoying working as a team with the different branches. Everyone has different styles and input, but what matters is that it culminates finally in successful mission accomplishment. It all works out in the end.
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